Rio Tinto’s regular environment report will feature a greatly expanded community audit when it is unveiled in late June.
The world’s biggest mining company has devoted much more time and space to social issues in the forthcoming health, safety and environment report as part of a push towards more comprehensive triple bottom-line disclosure.
The expanded community audit also in part fulfils a pledge, made in a statement of business practice earlier this year, to show a ‘long term commitment to local communities’ living near its mining operations – and to safeguard their social and economic wellbeing.
Rio Tinto sees the expanded coverage of community matters as a significant move towards full social reporting.
Meanwhile, the company is facing a number of challenges to its social and environmental credentials in Australia and the UK. Australia’s main mining union has criticised its social and environmental performance. In the UK, MPs have tabled an early day motion calling for a public enquiry into its former Capper Pass tin smelter in east Yorkshire.